Incorporation of Cellulose into a Chew Treat for Dogs Increases Elasticity and Chewing Time

Abstract

Problem statement: We have reported earlier that administration of a treat containing a special cellulose preparation (Arbocel BWW40®), instead of a control treat without cellulose, diminishes the clinical signs of periodontal diseas e in dogs. Based on the physical characteristics of cellulose preparation, we hypothesized that treats with cellulose have greater elasticity and induce longer chewing time, leading to more mechanical dental cleansing. Approach: Treats without or with cellulose were subjected to bending and pullin g tests in which the threshold before fragmentation, expressed as required force, was det ermined. The treats were also used in an experiment with dogs to determine chewing times. Results: The addition of cellulose to the treats raised the forced needed for bending and pulling un til fragmentation by 12 and 99%. The inclusion of cellulose into the treats raised chewing by dogs of medium-sized and large breeds by 16 and 11%. In small-breed dogs chewing time was not affected b y cellulose. Conclusion: The inclusion of the cellulose preparation into the treats induces a res istant and elastic texture which promotes chewing. It is suggested that the cellulose-containing treat s maintain contact with the tooth surface which provides effective mechanical cleansing, explaining the observed improvement of periodontal disease in dogs.